St Patrick’s
vs Easkey
Markievicz
Park, Sunday September 27th (4.45pm)
The meeting
of these two west Sligo teams on Sunday in the Kennedys Intermediate
Championship semi-final could potentially turn into one of the games of the
championship so far.
Although St
Patrick’s were comfortable winners in the sides in the group stages – they
secured a 4-9 to 1-8 success on that occasion – Easkey will fancy their chances
at causing an upset here.
In fact, in
2013, St Patrick’s, who were then playing in Division One and were one of the
favourites for intermediate glory in that year, suffered a shock 1-9 to 0-6
defeat at the hands of the Sea Blues, and they will be keen to avoid such a
slip up again this weekend.
The
Skreen-Dromard outfit seem to have found a balance in their set-up now, with
Padraic Clarke and Niall Connolly scoring freely, and even without Enda
Connolly who is a long-term injury absentee, they look more than secure at the
back.
That
defensive solidity will be given a severe test by Dessie Sloyan and Co.,
however, and Easkey will be buoyed by their remarkable comeback in their
quarter-final tie. Eleven points down with 15 minutes to go, Noel McGuire’s
side secured a two-point win in a dramatic turnaround that will give them a
real shot in the arm as they look to secure their first title since 2010.
St Patrick’s
will be hot favourites to progress to the final, but this one will go down to
the wire.
Results to
date
St Patrick’s
IFC Group
Two R1: Ballymote 0-12 St Patrick’s 3-16
IFC Group
Two R2: St Patrick’s 3-11 Cloonacool 0-5
IFC Group
Two R3: Easkey 1-8 St Patrick’s 4-9
IFC Group
Two R4: St Patrick’s 0-11 St Farnan’s 0-9
IFC Group
Two R5: Enniscrone/Kilglass 1-12 St Patrick’s 2-5
IFC QF: St
Patrick’s 8-27 St Mary’s 0-4
Easkey
IFC Group
Two R1: St Farnan’s 3-3 Easkey 3-9
IFC Group
Two R2: Easkey 0-15 Ballymote 2-7
IFC Group
Two R3: Easkey 1-8 St Patrick’s 4-9
IFC Group
Two R4: Enniscrone/Kilglass 0-10 Easkey 2-10
IFC Group
Two R5: Cloonacool 3-8 Easkey 3-10
IFC QF:
Easkey 3-14 Shamrock Gaels 3-12